Denture attachment



Jan. 14, 1964 M. D. POVEROMO 3,117,377

DENTURE ATTACHMENT Filed May 2. 1961 r 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTOENEYS' INVENTOR MELVIN D. PovE Tag/1,,

Jan. 14, 1964 V M. D. POVEROMQ DENTURE ATTACHMENT 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 2, 1961 MEL v/zv D. Pave-201.40

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United States Patent 3,117,377 DENTURE ATTACHMENT Melvin D. Poveromo, 1025 Kane Concourse, No. 204, Bay Harbor Islands, Miami Beach, Fla. Filed May 2, 1961, Ser. No. 107,129 6 Claims. (Cl. 326) .This invention relates to the general field of connector devices and, more specifically, the invention pertains to denture attachment means.

The prior art is replete with denture attachment devices which include the mating of a male element with a female element to hold the denture in place, and all heretofore known devices are subject to one or more disadvantages which are inherent by virtue of their construction. For example, when conventional attachments are received by the dentist or laboratory technician, the male element always fits very snugly in the female element. The female element is adapted, of course, for connection with the crown of a natural tooth (abutment tooth) and the male element is connected with the denture or insert. Now, when the case is initially inserted, it is generally left in place for at least twenty-four hours before removal for adjustment for the first time. This is due to the fact that with very snug fits, considerable pressure or force must be exerted to remove the denture which leads to the breaking of the cement under the abutment crown or the tooth.

Further, and due to the original snug fit between the male and female elements, the dentist has no control over the tightness of the fit at the time of the initial insertion of the denture into the patients mouth.

Again, the conventional attachments operate, for the most part, on a wedge principle wherein the male element is forced against the female element when adjustments must be made to secure the necessary frictional contact to overcome the looseness between the two elements.

e wedge means causes the flared portions of the male element to spread unevenly, and since the flared portions are formed of a very thin metal, the adjustment will not be effective for an appreciable length of time.

The present-day attachment elements are frequently found to require grinding to obtain the desired fit. This, too, is objectionable.

Additionally, the conventional prior art devices of the type referred to supra are constructed in such a manner that lateral stresses imparted to the denture are transmitted directly to the abutment tooth to its detriment.

These and other disadvantages and objections to conventional prior art attachments may be raised, but the above-discussed points are deemed to be generally illustrative thereof.

Therefore, one of the primary objects of this invention is to provide denture attachment means employing a female element and a split male element wherein the male element is completely collapsed Within the female element when received by the dentist or laboratory technician. By the term collapsed it is to be understood that the male element is insertable within the female el ment without any frictional contact therebetween whereby, for example, if the denture is designed for the upper arch the denture would fall, under the force of gravity, since there would be no frictional contact between the male and female elements to effect a restraining force therebetween.

Another object of this invention is to provide a denture attachment wherein the frictional control of the attach- 3,117,377 Patented Jan. 14, 1964 ment or connecting means is entirely within the hands of the dentist.

A further object of this invention is to provide denture attachment means which will not place any stress on the abutment tooth or its crown during the initial fitting.

Still another object of this invention is to provide, in the male connector element, a flexible shank portion which will absorb lateral stresses imparted to the denture during periods of occlusion, the shank being so constructed as to flexibly yield or give at the time of the insertion of the denture by the dentist or subsequently, by the patient.

A still further object of this invention is to provide denture attachment means wherein the denture includ ing the male element comiected therewith may be removed from the female complement connected to the abutment tooth immediately upon solidification of the cement holding the crown on the abut-ment tooth.

Again, this invention pertains to denture attachment means which does not utilize the wedging principle, does not require grinding to fit, and whichobviates frustrations on the part of the operator, dentist, and/or patient.

This invention contemplates, as a still further object thereof, the provision of a denture attachment which is non-complex in construction and assembly, relatively inexpensive to manufacture, and one which is durable in use.

Other and further objects and advantages of the instant invention will become more manifest from a considera tion of the following specification when read in the light of the annexed drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of a denture plate and of the attachment means for securing the same to a natural tooth;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged detail cross-sectional view of the denture attachment means, FIGURE 2 being taken substantially on the horizontal plane of line 22 of FIG URE 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged detail cross-sectional View of the denture attachment means, FIGURE 3 being taken substantially on the horizontal plane of line 3-3 of FIG- URE 2, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 4 is an exploded, enlarged, cross-sectional view of the denture attachment means;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged top plan view of the denture attachment means, partly in cross-section, FIGURE 5 being taken substantially on the horizontal plane of line 5-5 of FIGURE 4, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged perspective view of the female connector element; and

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged exploded perspective view of the male element of the denture attachment.

Referring now more specifically to the several figures of the drawings, reference numeral 10 designates, in gen eral, a natural tooth to which a denture 12 is to be con nected. For reasons obvious to all skilled in this art, the tooth 10 Will be hereinafter referred to as the abutment too The abutment tooth 10 is provided with the usual gold crown 14 (see FIGURE 2) and is ground or otherwise shaped to receive the female connector element 16 (see FIGURE 6) of the attaching means. Means (not shown) connect the crown 14 and the female element 16 rigidly with each other and with the abutment tooth 10.

The female element 16 is seen to comprise a normally upright U-shaped housing including a curvilinear bight wall 18 from the opposed ends of which project a pair of concave-convex side walls 20, 22, the side walls 2t), 22 being arranged and disposed in such a manner that the outer ends thereof converge toward each other. The outer ends of the side walls 26, 22 terminate in enlarged substantially rectangular flanges 24, 26 which diverge away from each other. The lower end of the female element 16 is closed by an end wall 28 formed integral with a depending substantially rectangular flange 30, the latter being also integral with the proximate or lower ends of the flanges 24, 26.

The male connector element is designated, in general, by the reference numeral 32 (see FIGURE 7) and is seen to comprise a normally upright channel-shaped housing 34 having a bight 36 from the opposed ends of which laterally project, in spaced confronting and parallel relation, a pair of arms 37, '58. The arms 37, 38 are formed with opposed confronting recesses 41), 42, respectively, which open inwardly from the outer free ends thereof and terminate at points proximate to, but spaced from the bight 36. The male connector element 32 also includes an insert 44 (see FIGURE 7) having a substantially T- shaped configuration and which comprises a shank portion 46 terminating at its outer end in an enlarged vertically-elongated convex head 48 which complements the configuration of the female element 16. The head 48 is provided with a slit 50 which extends inwardly and continuously from the top to the bottom thereof whereby the head 48 is bifurcated, giving rise to the side members 52, 54. The slit 50 is medial and extends inwardly from the outer end of the head 48 for a distance proximating three-quarters of the distance between the remotely-disposed ends of said head 43 and shank 46.

The confronting portions of the side members 52, 54, intermediate the inner and outer ends of the slit 50 (which extends anteriorly and posteriorly) are bored and tapped, as at 56, to receive from the bottom end thereof a tapered screw 58. The screw 58 has, preferably, an axial length greater than the axial length of the bore 56.

The insert 44 is soldered or otherwise fixedly secured within the housing 34 over the areas denoted by reference numerals 60, 62 and 64.

The shank 46 and the head 48 may be cast or extruded after which a fine saw could be employed to form the slit 50. The side members 52, 54 are then pressed together to serve the function to be described, after which the above-referred to tapping operation may be carried out. If preferred, the tapping may be accomplished by using the screw, per se. On the other hand, the shank 46 and head 48 may be cast or extruded in an engineered operation so that the over-all dimensions would be the same as the dimensions of these elements after the side walls 52, 54 have been pressed together, as referred to supra. Thereafter, the insert 44 may be slit and tapped, as before.

Either method could be used, providing the end result is the same. The modulus of elasticity of the metal forming the shank and the head must be such that there is a constant force on the side walls 52, 54 urging the same to move toward each other. It is understood, of course, that as the screw 58 is threaded into the bore 56, the side walls 52, 54 will expand away from each other, and, therefore, removal of the screw will cause the same to collapse toward each other due to the modulus of elasticity of the metal.

The housing 34 and its insert 44 are soldered or otherwise fixedly secured to the denture plate 60. The screw 58 is disposed in the bore 56, but is not tightened therein to such an extent as to cause the side walls 52, 54 to move away from each other.

The size and dimensions of the female element 16 and of the head 48 together with immediately adjacent portions of the shank '46 are such that with the head 43 in its collapsed condition the same will be loosely received within the female element 16. In fact, the desired condition is one wherein, upon original insertion of the denture 12, the head 43 has no peripheral contact with adjacent confronting areas of the female element 16 (sec FIGURE 5).

It will be seen, reference being made to FIGURES 3 and 5, that the arms 37, 38 are of such length that the free ends thereof abut against the free ends of the flanges 24, 26 when the male and female elements are coupled and whether or not the male element is in its collapsed or expanded condition.

The dentist now adjusts the screw 58 to expand the side walls 52, 54 evenly throughout their lengths to obtain the desired friction fit between the head 48 and the female element 16. The screw 58, as this adjustment takes place, usually extends above the upper end of the head 48, and the extension is there after ground off. When the screw 58 is threaded upwardly from the bottom of the head 48, the side members 52, 54 are pressed outwardly by equal increments and thus, when the head portion 48 of the male element 32 is inserted within the female element 16 the operator may make the necessary adjustments by means of the screw 58 to obtain the desired degree of retention between the head 48 and the female element 16 and at the same time, be assured that the head portion 48 will have its entire exterior surface in complete contact with the inner surface of the female element 16.

The flexibility of the shank 46 taken together with the recesses 40, 42 permit lateral movement of the denture 12 relative to the abutment tooth without damaging it or the crown with which it is capped.

It will be understood, of course, that the configuration of the male and female connector elements may assume shapes other than that disclosed herein. For example, the head 48 may be substantially cylindrical in transverse cross-section and the transverse cross-section of the female connecting element in such a case would also be substantially cylindrical. However, aside and apart from the specific configuration of the two connector elements, the principal operation of such connector elements remains the same throughout.

It will also be understood that the expanding mechanism (screw) may be in a position other than that disclosed herein, and that the expanding mechanism could be considered as secondary insofar as this invention is concerned, since any means could be utilized without departing from the spirit and scope of the basic invention.

Having described and illustrated in detail one embodiment of this invention, it will be understood that the same is offered merely by way of example, and that the invention is to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A denture attachment device comprising a male connector element formed of a resilient material and comprising a normally upright channel-shaped housing having a bight from the opposed ends of which laterally project a pair of spaced, parallel and confronting arms, said arms each having a recess formed therein disposed in confronting relation and extending inwardly from the outer ends thereof and terminating adjacent to but spaced from said 'bight, an insert for said housing, said insert comprising an elongated substantially rectangular shank having an inner end engaging and secured to said lastnamed bight and adjacent portions of said arms, said shank spanning said recesses and terminating in an enlarged head, said housing being adapted to be fixedly secured at its lower end to a denture plate, and a female housing having an internal configuration complementing said enlarged head and fixedly retaining the same therein.

2. A denture attachment device comprising a male connector element formed of resilient material and comprising a normally upright channel-shaped housing having a bight from the opposed ends of which laterally pro ject a pair of spaced, substantially parallel and confronting arms, said arms each having a recess formed therein disposed in confronting relation and extending inwardly from the outer ends thereof and terminating adjacent to but spaced from said bight, an insert for said housing, said insert being substantially T-shaped in configuration and including an elongated substantially rectangular shank having its inner end engaging and secured to said last-named bight and adjacent portions of said arms, said shank spanning said recesses and projecting therebeyond, said terminal end of said shank comprising an enlarged head having a substantially convex configuration in transverse cross-section, said head and said shank having a medially-located slit formed therein, said slit extending from the remotely-disposed ends of said head and said shank, said slit terminating at a point adjacent to but spaced from said inner end thereof, and said housing being adapted to be fixedly secured at its lower end to a denture plate, and a female housing having an internal configuration complementing said enlarged head and loosely receiving the same therein.

3. A denture attachment device comprising a male connector element formed of a resilient material and comprising a normally upright channel-shaped housing having a bight from the opposed ends of which laterally project 'a pair of spaced, parallel and confronting arms, said arms each having a recess formed therein disposed in confronting relation and extending inwardly from the outer end thereof and terminating adjacent to but spaced from said bight, a substantially T-shaped insert comprising an elongated substantially rectangular shank having an inner end portion engaging and secured to said lastnamed bight and adjacent portions of said arms, said shank spanning said recesses and projecting beyond said arms, said shank terminating in an enlarged convex head, said head and said shank having a slot for-med therein extending interiorly-posteriorly, said slot substantially bifurcating said head and said shank, said bifurcated head having the outer ends thereof engaging one another, said housing being adapted to be fixedly secured at its lower end to a denture plate, and a female housing element having a substantially concave-convex configuration in transverse cross-section, said female housing element being adapted to receive said male connector element therein, said female housing element comprising a normally upright bight wall from the opposed ends of which laterally project a pair of oppositely-disposed concave-convex side walls, said side walls terminating at their respective outer ends in upright substantially rectangular side flanges which diverge :away from one another and which are adapted for engagement with the outer ends of said arms of said male connector element, an end wall extending across the lower end of said last-named housing, said end wall having a flange depending therefrom, the opposed ends of said last-named flange being integral with the lower ends of said side flanges, and means for connecting said last-named housing with an abutment tooth. l

4. A denture attachment device comprising a male connector element formed of resilient material and comprising a normally upright channel-shaped housing having a bight from the opposed ends of which laterally project a pair of spaced, substantially parallel and confronting arms, said arms each having a recess formed therein disposed in confronting relation and extend-ing inwardly from the outer ends thereof and terminating adjacent to but spaced from said bight, an insert for said housing, said insert being substantially T-shaped in configuration and including an elongated substantially rectangular shank having its inner end engaging and secured to said last-named bight and adjacent portions of said arms, said shank spanning said recesses and projecting therebeyond, said terminal end of said shank comprising an enlarged head having a substantially convex configuration in transverse cross-section, said head and said shank having a medially-located slit formed therein, said slit extending from the remotely-disposed ends of said head and said shank, said slit terminating at a point adjacent to but spaced from said inner end thereof, and said housing being adapted to be fixedly secured at its lower end to a denture plate, a female housing having an internal configuration complementing said enlarged head and loosely receiving the same therein, and means extending through said head to effect an expansion of said slit end of said head and adjacent portions of said shank.

5. A denture attachment. device comprising a male connector element formed of a resilient material and comprising a normally upright channel-shaped housing having a bight from the opposed ends of which laterally project a pair of spaced, parallel and confronting arms, said arms each having a recess formed therein disposed in confronting relation and extending inwardly from the outer end thereof and terminating adjacent to but spaced from said bight, a substantially T-shaped insert comprising an elongated substantially rectangular shank having an inner end portion engaging and secured to said lastnamed bight and adjacent portions of said arms, said shank spanning said recesses and projecting beyond said arms, said shank terminating in an enlarged concave head, said head and said shank having a slot formed therein extending anteriorly-posteriorly, said slot substantially bifurcating said head and said shank, said bifurcated head having the outer ends thereof engaging one another, said housing being adapted to be fixedly secured at its lower end to a denture plate, and a female housing element having a substantially concave-convex configuration in transverse cross-section, said female housing element being adapted to receive said male connector element therein, said female housing element comprising a normally upright bight wall from the opposed ends of which laterally project a pair of oppositely-disposed concave-convex side walls, said side Walls terminating at their respective outer ends in upright substantially rectangular side flanges which diverge away from :one another and which are adapted for engagement with the outer ends of said arms of said male connector element, an end wall extend-ing across the lower end of said last-named housing, said end wall having a flange depending therefrom, the opposed ends of said last-named flange being integral with the lower ends of said side flanges, means for connecting said last-named housing with an abutment tooth, and means extending through said head and carried thereby to effect an expansion of the bifurcated end thereof.

6. A denture attachment device comprising a male connector element formed of a resilient material and comprising a normally upright channel-shaped housing having a bight from the opposed ends of which laterally project a pair of spaced, parallel and confronting arms, said arms each having a recess formed therein disposed in confronting relation and extending inwardly from the outer end thereof and terminating adjacent to but spaced from said bight, a substantially T-shaped insert comprising an elongated substantially rectangular shank having an inner end portion engaging and secured to said lastnamed bight and adjacent portions of said arms, said shank spanning said recesses and projecting beyond said arms, said shank terminating in an enlarged concave head, said head and shank having a slot formed therein extending anteriorly-posteriorly, said slot substantially bifurcating said head and said shank, said bifurcated head not only having the outer ends thereof engaging one another, said head at the innermost end of said slot having a normally upright bore formed therein, a tapered screw threadedly engaged within said bore and being operable to expand the bifurcated ends of said head away from one another, said housing being adapted to be fixedly secured at its lower end to a denture plate, and a female housing element having a substantially concave-convex configuration in transverse cross-section, said female housing element being adapted to receive said male connector element therein, said female housing element comprising a normally upright bight wall from the opposed ends of 7 which laterally project a pair of oppositely-disposed concave-convex side Walls, said side walls terminating at their respective outer ends in upright substantially rectangular side flanges which diverge away from one another and which are adapted for engagement with the outer ends of said arms of said male connector element, an end wall extending across the lower end of said lastnamed housing, said end: wall having a flange depending therefrom, the opposed ends of said last-named flange References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Nordstrom Jan. 1, 1918 Eckrnan Feb. 3, 1942 Stark et a1 Mar, 13, 1951 

1. A DENTURE ATTACHMENT DEVIDE COMPRISING A MALE CONNECTOR ELEMENT FORMED OF A RESILIENT MATERIAL AND COMPRISING A NORMALLY UPRIGHT CHANNEL-SHAPED HOUSING HAVING A BIGHT FROM THE OPPOSED ENDS OF WHICH LATERALLY PROJECT A PAIR OF SPACED, PARALLEL AND CONFRONTING ARMS, SAID ARMS EACH HAVING A RECESS FORMED THEREIN DISPOSED IN CONFRONTING RELATION AND EXTENDING INWARDLY FROM THE OUTER ENDS THEREOF AND TERMINATING ADJACENT TO BUT SPACED FROM SAID BIGHT, AN INSERT FOR SAID HOUSING, SAID INSERT COMPRISING AN ELONGATED SUBSTANTIALLY RECTANGULAR SHANK HAVING AN INNER END ENGAGING AND SECURED TO SAID LASTNAMED BIGHT AND ADJACENT PORTIONS OF SAID ARMS, SAID SHANK SPANNING SAID RECESSES AND TERMINATING IN AN ENLARGED HEAD, SAID HOUSING BEING ADAPTED TO BE FIXEDLY SECURED AT ITS LOWER END TO A DENTURE PLATE, AND A FEMALE HOUSING HAVING AN INTERNAL CONFIGURATION COMPLEMENTING SAID ENLARGED HEAD AND FIXEDLY RETAINING THE SAME THEREIN. 